on where I changed my perspective and shifted my focus...

Nothing threatens more to make you come a little unglued, just a little frazzled around the edges, than when the air conditioner stops working in the middle of the night.  Or when you are getting dressed for work, while chasing a toddler around the house, and the temperature inside your house is climbing higher and higher and you start sweating.  At 7 o'clock in the morning.

But it's really all a matter of perspective.  Right?

This morning I had a choice to make. 

One--Come unraveled.  Unglued.  Lose my cool {both literally and figuratively}.

Two--Give thanks.

I chose the later.

'Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time;

thank God no matter what happens.

This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.'

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (The Message)

Yes, I gave thanks.

I poured out my gratitude to Jesus for a roof over my head and clothes on my back.  For a soft pillow to lay my head and a warm bed to comfort me during the night.  For the luxury of sleeping and living with air condition and heat.  For an abundant supply of food in my pantry and fridge.  For the ability to drive a car to work and a job that provides for my family. 

We are a spoiled society.  Just a bunch of little brats running around thinking we are entitled. 

Yes, you read that correctly.  I called all of us out for being spoiled brats.  Let me know if you disagree with me.

Entitled to climate control.  Entitled to hot, clean water.  Entitled to cable TV.  Entitled to the latest fashion trends.  Entitled to drive nice cars.  Entitled to iPods and iPhones and iPads.

I.  I.  I.       Me. Me. Me.

It makes me a little sick just thinking about how spoiled I am. 

This morning, I had a shift of focus. 

Instead of getting lost in despair of repair bills and humidity, I chose to glance Heavenward.  I purposely gazed on the many blessings I have been freely given. 

God has richly blessed my family.  Abundantly and overwhelmingly and extragavantly more than my feeble, weak mind can ever comprehend. 

The present suffering {I chuckle as I type that because it was literally just a few measly hours} of being without an air conditioner is really not worthy of being compared to the shining greatness He is going to give me.  Not worthy, y'all.  Not in the least.

So, this here diva,  my spoiled self, is not going to whine.  She is not going to come unraveled and unglued.  Oh no, I'm not!

Instead, I am going to purposely {did you catch that?}....I am going to purposely focus on His blessings.

After all, it is all grace.  Every single bit of every single second of my life is grace. Freely given.  Undeserved.  Grace. 

And I have little eyes watching my every reaction to every circumstance.  So I choose the later.  I choose to give thanks.

May you find more joy in your blessings and less aggravation in your inconveniences. 

It's all a matter of perspective, really.

'I am sure that our suffering now cannot be compared

to the shining greatness that He is going to give us.'

Romans 8:18

Yes, Lord.  Show me Your shining greatness.  Nothing compares to Your glory. Amen.